Media

Every week we reach hundreds of thousands of people through placing arguments in the media in support of the principles we stand for. No other advocacy group in the country does as much as we do to promote support for policies that defend your right, and that of your community, to make decisions about your own life free from counter-productive government interference.

Consider that, in the economy, growth rates rebounded from the negative levels recorded through much of the 1980s and early 1990s to average just on 3% between 1994 and 2003 and over 5% between 2004 and 2007. Total real GDP more than doubled.

8 February 2017 – With the State of the Nation 2017 a day away, thoughts turn once again to the serious challenges facing South Africa. Regular readers of our reports and users of our briefing services will know just how serious those challenges are. But, according to an IRR report released today, there is a ‘silver lining’ as the country has also made progress in terms of the economy, the world of work, living standards and service delivery, education, health and crime.

7 February 2017 – The IRR’s comprehensive field survey of public opinion on racial issues shows that only 3% of South Africans see racism as a serious unresolved problem. Most are far more concerned about unemployment (cited by 40%), poor service delivery (listed by 34%), inadequate housing (18%), crime (15%) and bad education (likewise cited by 15%).

6 February 2017 – The IRR’s transformation audit, in its January issue of Fast Facts, reveals that racial transformation of the South African workplace, asset ownership and state institutions has been significant and continues to improve.

Various journalists have worked themselves up into a lather about the supposed arrival of a "post-fact" or "post-fact" era heralded by the British decision to quit the European Union and the election of Donald Trump to the American presidency

31 January 2017 – Under the hate speech provisions in the Bill, any new equivalent of the Penny Sparrow comment comparing black beachgoers to monkeys could see its author jailed for up to three years. But a cartoon insulting President Jacob Zuma by drawing him with a showerhead fixed to his forehead could also see its author jailed for up to three years.

Public comments close today on the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. It’s a bill that’s surface intentions are to counter the increased racial incidents last year. But when one digs a little deeper, the source of it points elsewhere. Anthea Jeffery is a constant thorn in government’s side, questioning all policy decisions with a sharp blade. In her latest installment Jeffery unpacks the Hate bill, and is concerned the underlying reasons for it may be detrimental to South Africa. Jeffery believes the Bill is unconstitutional and unnecessary – and should be withdrawn and replaced by a very different approach.